Govt may bring into NCR vegetables from Southern Luzon, Mindanao

After typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" battered Northern Luzon which supplies most of Metro Manila's vegetables, the government is planning to bring into the National Capital Region (NCR) fresh produce from Southern Luzon and Mindanao. Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said consumers in Metro Manila can expect a slight increase in the prices of vegetables because of the devastation brought by typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" (international names: Nesat and Nalgae, respectively). Maglaya said the Department of Agriculture may bring in vegetables from other areas such as Southern Luzon and Mindanao. "Magtutulungan tayo with the DA dahil sa ganitong pagkakataon ang ibang sources like Cavite sa Region 4A at some of them probably from Mindanao," she said in an interview over radio dzXL. "Ang gulay talaga tumaas ang wholesale price may epekto sa atin dito," she said. Heavy rain and strong winds from the two typhoons have pounded Northern Luzon. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's (NDRRMC) 6:00 p.m. Sunday update, the damage to agriculture was estimated at P7.554 billion. - VVP, GMA News